Norm Thompson Bamboo

[Dave Westburg]

Purchased a 7'6" Farlows/Sharpes bamboo rod.


The rod was sold in North America by Norm Thompson. Norm Thompson resold bamboo rods by Winston, Orvis, Thomas, Hardy and Sharpes of Aberdeen.

The rod is 7'6" casts a 6 weight nicely. They called it Armour Cane instead of impregnated because Orvis wouldn't let them use the word impregnated until Harold Sharpe proved he hadn't violated Orvis's patented impregnation system.

The male and female ferrules have a small number 7. Sharpes numbered ferrules so people could tell if they were original.

Rod comes with a nice blue Farlows bag and a ferrule cap.

Looked up the rod in my old Norm Thompson catalogs. Anyone remember Norm Thompson before they became a womens sweater company? The old catalogs are a delight.

The Norm Thompson catalogs said my fly rod was a 7 weight! Stunned to see this until I looked at what they said about a few other rods. They said the famous Orvis 7'6" 4 3/8 oz Battenkill was a DT8. Most everyone I know considers it a 6 weight. Overlining rods didn't start with Rio and the modern flyline makers...

I know a pond where I'm going to put this rod to work in the next month. It's got mostly small cutts but a few like this.

 

[Greg Armstrong]

Beauty… the fish and the rod!

 

[SculpinSwinger]

Thanks for the background on the rod and Norm Thompson. I knew the store had flies tied in house, but nothing of the Anglers Guide, or importing cane rods.
Someday I will own a Sharpes Scottie two hander.
Beautiful rod in what appears to be excellent/exceptional condition.

 

[Dave Westburg]

Thanks for the background on the rod and Norm Thompson. I knew the store had flies tied in house, but nothing of the Anglers Guide, or importing cane rods.
Someday I will own a Sharpes Scottie two hander.
Beautiful rod in what appears to be excellent/exceptional condition.

I've got a 13' spliced Sharpes. Happy to let you cast it some time if you want to get the feel for what spey bamboo is about. It's a great rod for classic single and double spey casting with a 9/10 mid or long belly line. Weighs 16 ounces so you'll need a heavy old reel to keep it from feeling tip heavy. I'd avoid the Sharpes 13' and 14' ferruled rods (you'll see lots of them) because the spey casting will strain the bamboo at the ferrule. Have heard the 12' 8 weight spliced Sharpes is nice but you don't see very many of them on the internet.

 

[SculpinSwinger]

The spliced 12’ 8 wt is what I desire…The spliced 13’ 9/10 would be next in line.
Thanks for spreading the classics, and class Dave.

Evan

 

[Dave Westburg]

The spliced 12’ 8 wt is what I desire…The spliced 13’ 9/10 would be next in line.
Thanks for spreading the classics, and class Dave.

Evan

Have found a 12 spliced Sharpes in the UK for $200. Am trying to decide whether I want to buy that or a Sharpes 8'3" wilson international next.

 

[Mike Monsos]

Have found a 12 spliced Sharpes in the UK for $200. Am trying to decide whether I want to buy that or a Sharpes 8'3" wilson international next.

You're going to need to expand your man cave Dave!

 

[Dave Westburg]

You're going to need to expand your man cave Dave!

I can drill a few more holes in the top of my rod table...